If you get the error message that the update service is not running, the first thing to check is that the service is on automatic. If it is, then go to your automatic updates settings, and turn them completely off. It's the "not recommended" setting, never check for updates. After you have set updates to this, go to the control panel and manually check for updates. It worked well for me; it checked for the updates, installed them, and afterwards I could set it to automatic updates and it worked. This was on a Windows 7 system.
Windows update service not running
Today I tried running windows update and ran into a problem saying that windows update service might not be running and i need to restart my computer but after many restart its still not running.
edit: sorry I forgot to include that info my first post
windows 7 64 bit upgrade from vista 64
Mcafee security center 1 year subcription
I dont shutdown my computer its 24/7 my last windows update install was 01/13/2010. The automatic update service is not in the services.msc
Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update
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Thanks all for the support! But I think its a corruption problem and as I am looking into windows 7 programs some of them are not working anymore. so i decided to put in the win 7 dvd and did another upgrade from win 7 itself and it worked now after 4 hours of reinstallation
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Anonymous
2010-01-26T07:26:01+00:00 Always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; WinXP 64-bit SP2; Vista SP1; Vista 64-bit SP2; Win7; Win7 64-bit) when posting in a forum or newsgroup. Please do so in your next reply.
What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?
Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?
**Error: Windows Update Cannot Check For Updates, Because The Service Is Not Running** (13 July 2012) [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2730071](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2730071) -
Anonymous
2010-01-26T11:01:01+00:00 Did you check the Windows Update Service to see if it's correct?
http://www.blackviper.com/Windows_7/servicecfg.htm / http://www.blackviper.com/Windows_7/Services/Windows_Update.htm
TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2010 - Update Services
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Anonymous
2010-01-26T20:46:44+00:00 I checked the regedit and didnt see it under services no registry for the win update. Is this cause of corruption? as much as possible I dont want to reinstall as my win7 is an upgrade version so I will need vista again to install my win7. What else can I do to activate the windows update service?